You have carefully planned every detail of your wedding day. But sometimes, the reality is much different than the imagination. Do you know what might bridge the gap between all the planning and the final commencement? A full-fledged rehearsal dinner! The idea and expectation of a typical rehearsal dinner have evolved through the years. It’s more than just a rehearsal. From invites to toasts, here’s everything you need to know about this prewedding soirée.
Why Do Weddings Have Rehearsal Dinners?
Picture Courtesy: @shawnconnell / Planner: @marcyblum
Practice makes a man (and woman) perfect, perhaps that’s why we have rehearsal dinner practice in place for modern couples.
Send invites: If you are sending invitations, you should send them at least 4 weeks before the rehearsal dinner. You want them to arrive after the wedding invitation but with plenty of time for guests to RSVP.
What Happens?
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Rehearsal dinner starts with you practicing everything that you are going to do on your wedding day. Walking down the aisle, practicing speeches and maintaining timelines. Rehearsals are followed by rehearsal dinners. It’s a great way to make acquaintances so that your wedding day is well-coordinated and everyone knows what and who to expect. From walking to wedding party placement, practicing “I do” is crucial to working out last-minute kinks and making sure everyone is on the same page.
Time & Place
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Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner was given the night before the wedding by the parents of the groom. Everyone in both families, in the wedding party, and from out of town was invited to the dinner, and it was a more formal affair. But like many other wedding traditions, couples are starting to make these pre-nuptial parties their own. Rehearsal dinner agendas are sometimes much more casual or more intimate and, really, the way you plan it is all up to you. Typically, ceremony rehearsals require about an hour. Tell your guests to arrive 30-minutes before the actual time that they need to show up.
Location
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It can happen anywhere. You can book an extra day in the same hotel which is your wedding venue. If you want to make it a fun affair, choose a garden, beach or backyard. Draw up a seating plan especially for both parents.
Choose a theme: A fun way to kick off the wedding weekend is to incorporate a theme into your rehearsal dinner. You can build the party around your cultural background or play up the wedding’s location.
Conclusion
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Your rehearsal dinner shouldn’t compete with the actual wedding. However, that doesn’t mean it should be devoid of things like delicious food and fun touches! Instead, it should complement or supplement your nuptials. Treat the celebration as a pre-party, where guests leave craving more—and lucky for them, you’re going to deliver the next day.
Feature Image Credit: @poemaweddingevents / Venue: @theroswavebar
